ANYONE who sees three brightly coloured Cornish pilot gigs at sea tomorrow should not be alarmed – Weymouth Rowing Club members are not leaving the country.

It’s an end of season fundraiser involving most of the club’s regulars who are being challenged to row to Lulworth Cove, a distance of about eight nautical miles.

Training sessions and events see the rowers usually in the boats for up to an hour.

For this slog they’ll be on the water for three hours, depending on conditions. Each rower has been asked to raise a minimum of £20 which means at least £1,000 will be raised for club funds to buy equipment including oars for the new gig which is due to arrive soon.

Gig rowing in Weymouth has grown in popularity since the club was formed eight years ago and new members are signing up almost on a weekly basis. Many of the newcomers will be joining the more experienced rowers for the challenge.

Event organiser Wendy Pearce said: “It’s the end of the season and the regattas and championship events are all over.

“We organise a few events throughout the year to raise money for the club and for other charities. The club is very good value for money – a child pays £12 for the whole year for example.

“This event is quite unusual in that all three of our gigs will be in the water”

The row will begin from the Stone Pier at 10am tomorrow. If the weather is bad the event will be postponed until October 25.